Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1887-02-09
NEWS FROM CONGRESS.
SENATE.

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SENATE
The senate proceeded to the considera.
ton of pension bills on the calendar.
Sixty-siX bills were passed among them
the following:
The house bill granting pension of $50 a
month to the widow Of Brig Gen. Thomas
Francis Meagher; the senate bill increasing the
pension Of the widow of Maj. Gen Hunter TO
$50 month, and one increasing the pension
the widow of Commodore Spicer to $50
Mhe Indian appropriation bill was taken
up and passed without word of discussion.
The senate bill to incorporate the Atlantic
and Pacific Ship Railway company the
Tehuantepec billy came up as special order
and Mr. Morgan argued in support Of the
bill. Mr. Hale offered an amendment that
except as 10 the guarantee of s., 500 600
expressly provided in the bill, the United
states should be in no respect, whatever, lla-
bic for any debt or obligation of the COM
pany. Adjourned
The house went into committee of the whole
on the diplomatic and consular appropria-
ton bill. Mr.. Belmont said:
The committee on foreign affairs had consid-
cred 1t its duty to make certain changes in the
consular service. These changes, however were
not in conflict with existing laws. They con-
sisted of transfers of certain consulS from one
grade TO another and the transfer OF certain
nther cOuSulS from the fee list to the salary list
Another change was an increase of the salary OF
the minister 10 China Our relations were OF
such nature 10 make our mission there as
important as the mission to Russia or Germany
Mr.. McCraly, member OF the committee
on foreign affairs, opposed the increases OF
salaries provided by the bill
In vetoing the bill granting pension to
Abraham I. Grigg. the president quotes from
the hospital records 10 show that the claim
ant was not sick, but completely worthless,
obese and lazy" The president says:
He does not regard it as strange that this
claimant, encouraged by the ease with which
special acts are passed, seeks relief by such
means twenty years after his claim had been re-
sected by the pension bureau.
SENATE.
House bills on the calendar were passed.
among them the following
To amend the act OF Feb IS, 1885, to prohibit
the importation and Immigration of foreigners
and aliens under contract to perform labor; &c
amend section Of the act OF June 10, 1850, IN
relation 10 immediate transportation OF dutlable
goods.
Mr. Hawlev moved 10 proceed to the consid-
Grafton of the bill 10 encourage the manu-
facture of steel for modern army ordnance
armor and other army purposes, and to pro
vide heavy ordnance adapted TO modern
army warfare He said:
He had given notice several days ago that he
woud make this motion. He was pushed for
ward 10 il by the committee on coast defenses,
the committee on military affairs. and the gen
Pral sentiment of the senate, he believed, and OF
the country, he knew
The motion was agreed to-yeas 30, nays
21-and the bill was taken up Several
amendments reported by the committee on
coast defenses We're agreed TO, and after an
explanation on some points of the bilt it
was passed without division.
HOUSE.
Under the call of states large number of
bills were introduced and referred. Mr.
Springer moved TO suspend the rules and
pass the senate bill with an amendment IN
the nature of a substitute supplemental to
the Bowman act. referring private claims to
the court OF claims. He explained:
The bill merely provided that all private
claim bills or petitions for the payment OF
private claims presented 10 congress snau DC
referred 10 the cour5 OF claims for Judicia!
ascertain.nent Of the facts and for report Of
those facts 10 congress.
The motion was lost-76 to 75-not the
necessary two-thir3s in the affirmative Mr..
Bayne moved 70 suspend the rules and pass
the senate bill fixing the salaries of the
Judges OF the United States district courts at
s., 900. I0st-yeas ia nays 1O9-nOt the
necessary two-thirds. On motion of Mr. Pc
tiers, the rules were suspended, and the bill
the Indian Territory to the Chicago, Kansas
& Nebraska Railway company.
The speaker Rid before the house a
message from the president returning with
out his approval, a bill granting a pension
to Cuthbert Stone. In his message the
president states:
The army records show that the claimant
spent most of his term of enlistment in deser-
ton imprisonment for assertion. Thus is
exhibited the long and faithful service and high
character of the claimant, mentioned by the
committee as emitting him 10 consideration. l
withhold my assent from the bill because, if the
facts before me are true. the allowance Of this
claim would be trayesty on our whole scheme of
pensions, and an Insult TO every decent veteran
soldier.
The president also sent in messages veto
ing bills granting pensions to Franklin
Sweet, Jesse Campbell, R, K. Bennett Cath
crime Sarler and James R. Baylor, on the
ground, principally, that their claims are
still pending in the pension bureau.
SENATE.
Dolph, from the committee on commerce, re-
ported bill to create port of entrance at
Port Angeles. in the district Of Puget Sound,
Washington Territory. Mr.. Morrill, intro
duced a joint resolution for the preservation
of official documents and other historical
documents on file in the legations and con-
sulates of the United States trequlring the
papers Oh any SuDlSCGS IudU UdF0 D0GG
finally determined to be sent to the state
department for filing and preservation) He
asked that it lie on the table. The following
house bills on the calendar passed:
To prevent anv officer, agent or servant of the
government contracting or hiring out the labor
of prisoners: to amend the statutes in relation
to the immediate transportation OF dutlabl
goods.
The senate bill for securing statistics OF
the extent and value of the vessel fisheries
OF the United States was passed. The house
bill relating to the importing and landing of
mackerel during the spawning season was
taken up. During the discussion Mr.. Ed
munds presented report from the commits
sion OF fisheries as to the complaints from
owners Of vessels Of i'll treatment on the
Canadian coast. On moUion of Mr. Hoar an
amendment was adopted postponiHg the pc
Rod when the bill is to take effect from
March !, 1887, to March l, 1888. Without
d!sposing of the bill the senate adjourned,
PROGRESS IN THE HOUSE.
Mr. Cox a. " from the committee on
civil service reform, reported bill fixing the
salaries of the civil service commissioners at
S., 900 per annum- A senate bill was passed
granting certain seal rocks to the city of
San Francisco in trust for the United States.
Mr.. James from the committee on coinage,
weights and measures, reported O bill for the
issue of subsidiary silver coin. The bill re-
iating TO the com pensation of United States
attorneys, marshals and commissioners was
discussed without action. 1T abolishes the
fee system and substitutes the salary system
Of compensation The house went into
committee of the whole on the senate bill to
indemnify certain subjects of the Chinese
empire for loss sustained by the violence Of
mob at Rock Springs Wyo., on Sept 3,
1885. Mr. Belmont dwelt uron the neces-
sity Of the United States government grant
ing indemnity to the losses inflicted, and
commended the action of the Chinese au
thorities since this occurrence. Mr.. Morrow
inquired whether it was the purpose of the
committee, in case this bill was passed, to
call up to-day the bill restricting Chinese
immigration. Mr.. Belmont replied in the
negative.
The Chinese government did not desire to en-
baIrass the relations between the two nations by
a continuance of immigration, and there
disposition to modify the treaty so to bring
about results very much more effective than
could be secured by legislation. With this as
surance the committee did not intend to bring
up the matter to-day.
The respective merits of the senate bill
which provides for the ascertainment of the
losses incurred, and the house bill which